Chapter 7 - The Hidden CompartmentRachel’s face was buried in my bare chest, her hands gripping my shoulders so tightly her knuckles were white. For a moment, the chaos of the ruined hotel room vanished, replaced entirely by the warmth of her body and the erratic rhythm of her breathing.
“You’re an idiot,” she whispered, her voice muffled against my skin. “You could have been killed.”
“And let some thug mess up my vacation?” I managed to joke weakly, though my arms instinctively wrapped around her, pulling her closer to protect her from the wreckage. “Not on my watch.”
She pulled back just enough to look up at me, her dark eyes shining with a mixture of fear, adrenaline, and something dangerously close to raw desire. The space between our lips narrowed. The air in the room suddenly felt electric, heavy with unsaid words that had been building up for five years of family dinners and polite holiday greetings.
“Tyler...” she breathed, her gaze dropping briefly to my mouth.
Before I could close the gap and kiss her, the sound of clapping echoed from the doorway. We both spun around.
Marcus Vance was standing in the shattered entryway, leaning casually against the doorframe. He wasn't holding a weapon, but a cold, venomous smile played across his lips.
“Touching,” Marcus mocked, slowly clapping his hands together. “Truly a romantic moment among the ruins. But let's cut to the chase, shall we? Where is the drive, Rachel?”
I gently pushed Rachel behind me, stepping forward to block Marcus’s path. “You’re trespassing. And your goon is currently taking a nap on the floor. I suggest you turn around before I wake him up and give you the same treatment.”
Marcus didn't flinch. Instead, he pulled out his cell phone, tapped the screen, and held it up.
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On the screen was a live security camera feed of Amanda—tied to a chair in the hotel’s basement service elevator, a gag wrapped tightly around her mouth.
“Your sister sends her regards,” Marcus said smoothly. “Now, Tyler... do you want to keep playing superhero, or are you going to ask Rachel to hand over the flash drive right now?”
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